Tripathi did not attend the interviews that happened at PESB office here this morning.PESB said it interviewed four candidates - Sarraf, Shashi Shanker, Lohani and Coal India Director (Personnel) R Mohan Das.

The PESB recommendation will now go the Oil Ministry and once Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily concurs, CVC and CBI clearances will be sought. Upon being cleared, Sarraf's candidature will then be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Appointments (ACC).

Sarraf was Director (Finance), ONGC before moving to OVL in September 2011. He transformed the company into an aggressive overseas firm, stitching 4 deals worth over USD 11 billion in the past one year.

Earlier this week, Sarraf-led OVL announced buying US energy major Anadarko Petroleum Corp's 10 percent stake in a giant Mozambique gas field for USD 2.64 billion. This deal came on top of the USD 2.475 billion deal announced in June to buy Videocon's 10 percent stake in the same field, which may hold as much as 65 Trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas resources.

OVL, which since inception had invested USD 17 billion in 32 assets in 15 countries till 2011, has struck over USD 11 billion worth deals in the past one year under Sarraf.

Sarraf holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi. He is also a member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

As head of ONGC, his immediate task would be to raise the stagnant oil and gas output and aggressively look for more reserves.